MAYER, MN  Demetrius Charles Edward Derden, 27, of Blaine, has been arrested and charged with felony counts of first degree aggravated robbery and second degree assault with a deadly weapon in connection with an incident at a Mayer gas station, according to reports from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office and Carver County Attorney’s Office.

Carver County Sheriff’s Office responded to a robbery at the Mayer Oil Company gas station at 308 Ash Avenue North in Mayer at 8:46 p.m. Dec. 3, according to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson.

According to the complaint, Derden entered the business carrying an umbrella in one hand to block his face from the video surveillance in the store, and a gun in his other hand.

Derden walked behind the counter and pointed the handgun at the clerk and demanded cash.

After the clerk emptied the cash drawer into a bag, Derden walked the clerk to a back area of the store which contained a safe.

According to the complaint, the clerk gave Derden cash from a bottom safe, but told him he did not have the combination to the upper safe.

Derden told the clerk, “You better remember. Your life depends on it,” according to the complaint.

The clerk then heard a “click” coming from the gun, and believed that the gun was empty, so he began to turn around and stand up.

Dresden pushed him back down and struck the clerk on the side of the head with the barrel of the gun.

According to the clerk, he began to “fight for his life,” and a violent struggle ensued.

The clerk was able to wrestle the gun away from Derden and remove his mask and jacket, according to the complaint.

Derden eventually fled the scene with the bag of money.

A store patron who was getting gas assisted the clerk when he found him lying on the floor behind the counter.

At the scene, police found an umbrella, a pair of plastic writ ties (plastic handcuffs), a face mask, a winter jacket, and the gun, which was identified as a black pellet/BB handgun.

Inside the jacket, police located three sets of plastic handcuffs, an empty rum bottle, a business card, and a check card in the name of Demetrius C. Derden, according to the complaint.

Derden was identified by matching his driver’s license photo with the surveillance video.

Derden was arrested at his home in Blaine at about 2:30 a.m. Dec. 4.

The clerk sustained injuries that required medical treatment, but are not believed to be life-threatening. The name of the employee is being withheld pending the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone who has information regarding this crime is asked to call the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.

A charge of first degree aggravated robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both.

A charge of second degree assault with a deadly weapon is punishable by seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine, or both.